ASF Funded Research

Funding autism research is at the core of our mission. In 2012, we increased our funding for pre- and post-doctoral fellowships by 50%. We focus on clever young investigators with cutting-edge ideas who need seed money to get their research off the ground. ASF pairs these researchers with established scientists who provide mentorship and training. The government and other funders have decreased funding for training grants, but we are committed to helping young scientists gather the initial data they need to attract major funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), all while encouraging the best and brightest researchers to dedicate their careers to autism.

The Autism Science Foundation funds research that helps us to understand the causes of autism and develop more effective treatments. We also fund projects that improve the dissemination of autism research which provide parents and other stakeholders with the latest developments in autism science.

ASF funds research in accordance with the federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee’s (IACC) Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorder Research. This document is a blueprint for the most pressing research needs and opportunities in the field today. With this as our guidepost and with your support, we are finding the answers to autism. Since our founding in 2009, ASF has funded just under three million dollars in autism research. Our funding levels have increased each year and we expect this trend to continue in 2017.

Please view our funding calendar, and follow the links to the left to learn more about our grants.